Micro-machined fuel cells

ABSTRACT

An improved fuel cell is described. The invention addresses the problem of mechanical failure in thin electrolytes. One embodiment varies the thickness of the electrolyte and positions at least either the anode or cathode in the recessed region to provide a short travel distance for ions traveling from the anode to the cathode or from the cathode to the anode. A second embodiment uses a uniquely shaped manifold cover to allow close positioning of the anode to the cathode. Using the described structures results in a substantial improvement in fuel cell reliability and performance.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/722,156, filed Dec. 23, 2003 now U.S. Pat. No. ______, by the same inventors, and claims priority therefrom. This divisional application is being filed in response to a restriction requirement in that prior application. The contents of the original U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/722,156 are hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

Fuel cells are electrochemical systems that directly produce electrical energy from two chemical compounds, typically a fuel and an oxidizer. FIG. 1 shows a typical fuel cell system in which an electrolyte 104 separates a fuel and an oxidizer. Electrolyte 104 serves as a proton exchange membrane (PEM), which is a hydrogen ion conductor but an electronic insulator. Hydrogen atoms are catalyzed from Hydrogen gas or a hydrocarbon source at the anode and disassociate from their electrons. The electrons flow through an electrode assembly not shown, through an external load 116, and back to the cathode 112. The Hydrogen ions are conducted through the PEM 104 and combine at the cathode 112 with electrons and oxygen to form water or steam, a waste product. The electrical current passing from cathode 112 to anode 120 through the external load 116 provides useful electrical energyA more detailed description of fuel cell operation is provided in a Fuel Cell Handbook, by Appleby, A. J. and Foulkes, F. R., and published by Van Nostrand Reinhold Co, New York, 1989.

In the illustrated system, electrolyte 104 is ideally made as thin as possible. Thin electrolytes are desirable because thinner structures are better ionic conductors and offer reduced electrical resistance. Typically, Ionic conductance is inversely proportional to thickness while electrical resistance is approximately proportional to thickness. High electrical resistance across the electrolyte increases power losses.

However, making electrolyte 104 thin increases fabrication difficulties and increases the probability of electrolyte failure. First, a thin electrolyte may not be effective at separating fuel and oxidizer. Fuel that diffuses through the electrolyte along with its electrons decreases cell efficiency because the electrons do not pass through the external circuit to provide useful energy. This situation is called fuel crossover. Fuel crossover oxidizes at the cathode 112 and generates heat. This is one limitation of using thin Nafion-based membranes with methanol fuel. Second, many fuel cell membrane technologies use soft or brittle materials. Thin electrolytes made from such materials are often mechanically unstable. If the membrane leaks or ruptures and allows bulk mixing of fuel and oxidizer, the cell fails and the device may explode or burn as catalytic materials in the anode and cathode permit runaway exothermic reactions. Fuel cell designers must balance safety and fuel crossover (which suggest thicker electrolytes) and ion conduction efficiency (which suggests thinner electrolytes). In order to solve the problem of structurally weak electrolytes, U.S. Pat. No. 4,863,813 by Dyer et al. eliminates a separating electrolyte and combines the oxidizer and the fuel in a common region 204 as shown in FIG. 2. In order to prevent a runaway fuel-oxidizer reaction, catalysts that enhance the reaction are shielded from the reacting species. To shield the catalysts, the Dyer patent teaches including the catalyst in electrode compositions and using selectively permeable electrodes. Thus, for example, the anode may be permeable to fuel but not to oxidizer. Designs of such selectively permeable electrodes are further described in Taylor et al (U.S. Pat. No. 5,102,750) and Ellgen et al (U.S. Pat. No. 5,162,166). However, the fabrication of such selectively permeable electrodes is difficult and the resulting constraints on electrode design results in non-optimal performance.

Thus an improved system of forming an electrolyte structure that maintains separation of the fuel and oxidizer yet avoids the tradeoff between mechanical robustness of the electrolyte is needed. For electrolytes in which fuel crossover is not significant, a method of mechanically stiffening a thinner electrolyte would allow better ion conduction and efficiency.

SUMMARY

A fuel cell that incorporates an improved electrolyte mechanical design is described. In one embodiment, the improved electrolyte is patterned and includes at least one recessed region to form a manifold. An electrode is positioned in a first manifold formed by the first recessed region. The positions of an anode electrode and a cathode electrode are arranged such that the distance between two electrodes, an anode and a cathode, is less than the average thickness of the electrolyte.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a conventional prior art structure for a fuel cell

FIG. 2 shows an improved prior art structure for a fuel cell that combines the fuel and the oxidizer.

FIG. 3 shows one embodiment of a co-planar fuel cell with separate manifolds.

FIG. 4 shows one embodiment of a coplanar fuel cell with a corrugated electrolyte.

FIG. 5 shows one embodiment of a coplanar fuel cell with grooved electrolytes.

FIG. 6 shows the use of a recessed electrolyte that includes stiffening ribs.

FIG. 7 shows one embodiment of the recessed fuel cells in which fuel cells are stacked.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A fuel cell system that allows use of a thicker electrolyte while still enabling close placement of an anode to a cathode is described. The system maintains separation of fuel and oxidizer chambers, reduces fuel cell mechanical failure, simplifies fabrication, and maintains fuel cell performance.

FIG. 3 shows a cross section of a fuel cell built on an electrolyte 304. In the embodiment shown, electrolyte 304 is a thick film that may also serve as a substrate. Alternately, electrolyte 304 may be formed on top of a support substrate (not shown). A dual manifold cover 328 over electrolyte 304 creates separate manifolds including a fuel manifold 332 and oxidizer manifold 336. Within fuel manifold 332 is an anode 308 and within oxidizer manifold 336 is a cathode 312.

In one embodiment, Electrolyte 304 is fabricated from a solid acid material. Solid acid materials are electronic insulators yet still have high ionic conductivity. These characteristics make solid acids particularly suitable for fuel cells, as described in an article by Haile et al entitled “Solid Acid Fuel Cell”, Nature 410, 19 Apr., 2001, pp 910-913. However, solid acid materials form brittle ceramic materials, which are unsuitable for fabrication of unsupported very thin electrolyte structures.

Anode 308 and cathode 312 are formed from a conductive material, typically an inert conductor such as graphite, and positioned adjacent to electrolyte 304. Either anode 308 or cathode 312 or both anode and cathode also typically include a catalyst, such as platinum and/or ruthenium, to facilitate the reaction between fuel and oxidizer. Catalysts act as a substrate for molecular interactions and facilitate splitting of fuels and oxidizers such as hydrogen and oxygen, H2 and O2 into H and O, generally only the monatomic species are reactive.

In FIG. 3, anode 308 and cathode 312 are formed in a common plane on a first surface 316 of electrolyte 304, although planarity is not a requirement. A small separation distance 318 separates anode edge 320 from closest cathode edge 324. Separation distance 318 is preferably less than 10 micrometers? The current path 344 will be focused in the gap regions near the cathode edge 324 and anode edge 320

A separating wall 340 in manifold 328 separates fuel chamber 332 and oxidizer chamber 336. Fuel manifold 332 typically contains a fuel such as Hydrogen or a hydrocarbon and an anode 308. An oxidizer manifold 336 typically contains a cathode 312 and an oxidizer, such as oxygen. The thickness of separating wall 340 forms a minimum limit on the distance 318 separating anode from cathode. Because close positioning of anode 308 to cathode 312 is desirable, separating wall 340 is preferably thin, often less than 10 micrometers in width. A number of techniques may be used to form a manifold with such dimensions, including photolithographic techniques.

Arrows 344 illustrate the flow of fuel ions, such as hydrogen ions. Hydrogen ions generally flow from anode 308, through electrolyte 304 to cathode 312 where they react with oxidizer. After reaction, the fuel cell outputs water. The ion flow causes a potential difference that drives electrons from the anode, through an electrical circuit, (not shown) to the cathode. The electron flow powers the external electrical circuit. Arrow 344 shows hydrogen ions flowing into one side of an electrolyte 304 and exiting the same side of the electrolyte 304 near a cathode. The novel ion path eliminates the thickness of the electrolyte as a determining factor in the path length of the hydrogen ions. Thus, cathode to anode spacing distances may be substantially less than electrolyte thickness.

FIGS. 4-6 show fuel cell structures in which the electrolyte, for example a solid acid, is molded, machined or otherwise shaped to create a non-planar surface that includes recessed regions. A manifold which may be planar or molded, machined or otherwise shaped, seals the recessed regions forming fuel and oxidation chambers in which electrodes and anodes are positioned.

FIG. 4 shows a fuel cell 400 embodiment that utilizes a corrugated electrolyte 404. Corrugated electrolyte 404 includes at least two recessed regions 402, 406 formed from the corrugated structure. Anode 408 and cathode 412 are positioned in corresponding recessed regions 402, 406. Each recessed region is typically triangular in cross section and typically ranges from 1 to 1000 micrometers in width at its widest point. The recessed regions 402, 406 are arranged to form fuel and oxidizer manifolds.

Shaping or corrugating the electrolyte may be accomplished by a number of techniques, including but not limited to molding or machining the electrolyte. In the case of a ceramic electrolyte, it may be patterned in the green state and subsequently fired, or it may be patterned after firing. When very small recessed regions are desired, photolithographic etching processes may be used to form the recessed regions. Typical photolithographic techniques are described in Wolf, S. and Tauber, R. N., Silicon Processing for the VLSI Era, Lattice Press, Sunset Beach, Calif., 1986 which is hereby incorporated by reference. Other methods of forming a corrugated electrolyte are available to those of ordinary skill in the art.

Raised portion 444 of corrugated electrolyte 404 forms a separating wall between fuel chamber and oxidizer chamber. The fuel and oxidizer chambers are formed from recessed regions 402, 406. Manifold cover 432 of Fuel Cell 400 couples to raised portion 444 and seals fuel chamber 436 and oxidizer chamber 440, the sealed chambers are fuel cell manifolds. When the height of raised portion 444 forms a plane with the tops of other raised portions 452, 456, manifold cover 432 may be a planar structure that seals Fuel Cell manifolds.

Arrows 444 show the migration of fuel ions from anode 408, through raised portion 444 to cathode 412. The fuel ions enter the electrolyte and exit on the same side 448 of electrolyte 404. An angled corner 445 at the top of raised portion 444 separates the entrance and exit points of fuel ions. Distance 414 between a closest point on anode 408 and a corresponding closest point on cathode 412 is substantially smaller than an average thickness 424 of electrolyte 404. Distance 414 is also smaller than the median thickness of electrolyte 404. As used herein, a median thickness is defined to be a thickness value at which half of the electrode is thicker than the median thickness, and half of the electrode is thinner than the median thickness.

FIG. 5 shows a fuel cell 500 where grooves have been formed in the electrolyte 504. The grooves form recessed regions 506, 508 which when sealed form manifolds. Each recessed manifold forms an approximate box cross section with corners 512, 516. Techniques for forming an electrolyte with the corresponding recessed regions include molding electrolyte 504, micro-machining the electrolyte, jet-printing the electrolyte or other ceramic patterning techniques known to those of skill in the art.

A dividing segment 552 of electrolyte 504 separates adjacent recessed regions 506, 508. The aspect ratio of dividing segment 556 is kept low, preferably the height 560 of dividing segment 552 is kept to less than 20 times the width 564. The low aspect ratio maintains the strength of separating segment 552.

Anode 532 and cathode 536 are formed inside corresponding recessed regions 506 and 508. Conforming anode 532 and cathode 536 to recessed regions 506, 508 contours results in an overlap of anode segment 548 with electrolyte dividing segment 552. Likewise, cathode segment 556 overlaps electrolyte dividing segment 552. Thus anode segment 548 and cathode segment 556 abut the two sides of electrolyte dividing segment 552. The thinness of dividing segment 552, typically less than 50 microns, allows positioning of anode segment 548 in close proximity to cathode segment 556 thereby facilitating ionic exchange between the two segments.

Typical fuel cells repeat the anode-cathode structure increasing the voltage and current that may be generated across the fuel cell. For example, the structure may be repeated in series such that a third anode 540 in sequential recessed region 544 is followed by a corresponding cathode (not shown). Fuel surrounds each anode and oxidizer surrounds each cathode. Ionized fuel atoms, such as cationic positively charged hydrogen ions, flow from anode, through electrolyte 504, to cathodes where they react with oxidizer. Alternatively, ionized oxidizer, such as anionic negatively charged oxygen ions, may flow from cathode, through electrolyte 504, to anodes where they react with fuel. The majority of ions travel the shortest path from anode to cathode. This shortest path is through dividing segment 552. The resulting potential difference can be used to drive electrical circuits.

In order to contain the fuel and the oxidizer, manifold cover 549 couples to electrolyte 504 creating a seal around at least two chambers suitable for containing fuel or oxidizer. The manifold cover may also provide structural support for raised portions of the electrolyte including separating segment 552. The manifold cover may be made from variety of materials such as plastic or ceramic that are compatible with fuel, electrolyte, and catalyst. Some electrolytes operate at elevated temperatures, as high as several thousand degrees Centigrade. A manifold cover that covers both anode and cathode is typically sufficiently electrically insulating to prevent electrical shorting of the anode to the cathode.

FIG. 6 shows a cross sectional view of a fuel cell 600 in which the electrolyte 604 has been patterned to include at least two recessed regions 608, 612. Electrolyte patterning may be achieved by micro-machining the electrolyte, molding the electrolyte or by other techniques known to those of skill in the art. Thicker areas 616 of electrolyte 604 act as “ribs” that provide strength to thinner areas 620 of electrolyte 604. Thinner areas are typically less than 50 microns thick and thicker areas are typically at least 100 microns thick. Although the aspect ratio of height to width of the recessed regions may vary considerably, typically the aspect ratio is kept below 0.4. The low aspect ratio helps insure the presence of sufficient thick regions of the electrolyte to maintain the strength of recessed thinner regions of electrolyte 604.

Fuel manifold cover 624 and oxidizer manifold cover 628 couple to opposite sides of electrolyte 604. The recessed regions of electrolyte 604 coupled with the manifold cover to form corresponding fuel manifold 632 and oxidizer manifold 636. The manifold covers may also serve to stiffen and strengthen electrolyte 604. An anode adjacent to electrolyte 604 in fuel chamber 632 and a cathode adjacent to an opposite side of electrolyte 604 in oxidizer chamber 636 provides electrical contact points. Fuel ions enter a first side 638 of electrolyte 604 and exit the electrolyte 604 on a second side 640. After exiting electrolyte 604, the fuel ions interact with a catalyst and oxidizer in oxidizer chamber 636. Alternatively, oxidizer ions enter a first side 640 of electrolyte 604 and exit a second side 638.

Fuel cells are sometimes stacked to more efficiently utilize a volume of space. (See Appleby, Fuel Cell Handbook, op cit.) FIG. 7 is a cross sectional side view of a fuel cell 700 that shows one method of stacking a plurality of fuel cells 704, 708, similar or equivalent to the fuel cell structures of FIG. 5 and FIG. 6. Cells containing anodes 716, 718 are positioned adjacent to cells containing cathodes 720. In the particular embodiment shown, four adjacent cathodes 720 surround anode 716, however other arrangements may be used to fit different electrical or mechanical needs. The anodes and cathodes may be made from materials known in the art, typically including a conductor and a catalyst.

Stacking and electrically coupling together the cell outputs enables an increase in the voltage or current output by the stack. Parallel electrical connections increase the current while serial electrical connections increase the voltage output by the stack.

Electrical connections between adjacent cells may be made a number of ways. In one embodiment, no electrical connections are made in the manifold itself. Instead, the electrical connections are made at the endplates (not shown). The endplates form the terminations of the fuel cell structure in the front and back, parallel to the cross section of FIG. 7. Alternate methods of electrically interconnecting cells may also be used.

In the example fuel cell 700, manifold covers between cells have been eliminated. Instead adjacent cell walls serve to seal each cell. Manifold covers may still be utilized on the top and bottom or on the sides of the cell stack. Although individual cells may be fragile, stacking increases the mechanical strength of the overall structure.

In the preceding description, a number of details have been provided. Such details include ideal dimensions, electrolyte shapes, examples of typical electrolyte material, and typical fuels for use in a fuel cell. Such details are provided to facilitate understanding of the invention and provide examples. However, such details should not be interpreted to limit the scope of the claim. The limits of the invention should only be defined by the claims which follow. 

1. A fuel cell comprising: an electrolyte that varies in thickness, the electrolyte including a first recessed region; a first electrode positioned in the first recessed region; and, a second electrode positioned such that the shortest distance from the first electrode to the second electrode is less than thickness of the thickest region of the electrolyte.
 2. The fuel cell of claim 1 wherein the electrolyte includes a second recessed region, the second electrode positioned in the second recessed region.
 3. The fuel cell of claim 1 wherein the second electrode is positioned such that the shortest distance from the first electrode to the second electrode is less than the median thickness of the electrolyte.
 4. The fuel cell of claim 1 wherein the first electrode is a cathode and the second electrode is an anode.
 5. The fuel cell of claim 1 wherein the first electrode is an anode and the second electrode is a cathode.
 6. The fuel cell of claim 1 wherein the first recessed region is sealed with a manifold cover.
 7. The fuel, cell of claim 1 wherein the electrolyte is made from a solid acid.
 8. The fuel cell of claim 1 wherein the electrolyte is a solid acid.
 9. The fuel cell of claim 1 wherein the first recessed region is filled with a fuel.
 10. The fuel cell of claim 9 wherein the fuel is oxygen.
 11. The fuel cell of claim 1 wherein the first recessed region is filled with an oxidizer.
 12. The fuel cell of claim 11 wherein the oxidizer is oxygen.
 13. The fuel cell of claim 1 wherein the recessed region is between 1 and 1000 micrometers in width.
 14. A fuel cell comprising: an electrolyte that varies in thickness, the electrolyte including at least two recessed regions; an anode positioned in a first recessed region of the at least two recessed region; a cathode positioned in a second recessed region of the at least two recessed regions, the anode and cathode positioned such that the shortest distance from the anode to the cathode is less than the thickness of the thickest region of the electrolyte.
 15. The fuel cell of claim 14 wherein the electrolyte is corrugated.
 16. The fuel cell of claim 15 wherein the anode and the electrode are formed on the same side of the electrolyte.
 17. The fuel cell of claim 14 wherein the width of the first recessed region is between 1 and 1000 micrometers.
 18. The fuel cell of claim 14 wherein the electrolyte is grooved to form the plurality of recessed regions.
 19. The fuel cell of claim 18 wherein the grooves to form the plurality of recessed regions are on a first side of the electrolyte.
 20. The fuel cell of claim 19 wherein the anode and the cathode each have segments that abut a separating segment of the electrolyte, the separating segment of the electrolyte separating the first recessed region from the second recessed region.
 21. The fuel cell of claim 19 wherein a separating segment of the electrolyte separates the first recessed region from the second recessed region, the separating wall having an aspect ratio of height to width of less than 10 but greater than 0.1.
 22. The fuel cell of claim 18 wherein the recessed regions are between 1 and 1000 micrometers in width.
 23. The fuel cell of claim 14 wherein the first recessed region is on a first side of the electrolyte, and the second recessed region is on a second side of the electrolyte.
 24. The fuel cell of claim 14 further comprising: a manifold cover that seals the first recessed region and the second recessed region.
 25. The fuel cell of claim 24 wherein the manifold forms a planar structure.
 26. The fuel cell of claim 24 further comprising: fuel in the first recessed region; and, oxidizer in the second recessed region. 